Sirius XM has done a pretty good job of beefing up the Internet side of their business, and in many ways, the internet feed gives consumers even more content.  It seems like a little known secret, but Sirius XM can actually grow their Internet business without limits, while the bandwidth on the SDARS spectrum makes any additional satellite channels a challenge.  Of course, the Internet side of the business carries an additional cost to the consumer, but deals like the recently announced addition of NASCAR might make the $3 per month up-charge a better value.

“Extending our broadcasting agreement with SiriusXM was a big offseason move for the sport,” said Brian France, Chairman and CEO of NASCAR. “A dedicated NASCAR channel is important for our teams, tracks, drivers and sponsors and is crucial for fan engagement and audience growth. Being able to simulcast SiriusXM NASCAR Radio online to subscribers nationwide will allow us additional opportunities to take our product to new fans in new places.”

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) and NASCAR have announced an agreement to simulcast the programming on the Sirius XM NASCAR Radio channel in its entirety — which includes live broadcasts of every national series race, plus daily NASCAR talk — online for Sirius XM subscribers nationwide.

Starting with this weekend’s races in Fontana, CA (March 24-25), subscribers who have Sirius XM Internet Radio access can listen to live broadcasts of every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on the Sirius XM NASCAR radio channel through their computers and through the SiriusXM App.

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, is available to Sirius subscribers, XM Premier (formerly known as “The Best of Sirius”) and Sirius XM Premier subscribers.

“Sirius XM NASCAR Radio has become a part of many NASCAR fans’ daily lives and with so many fans now connecting to their sport through handheld devices, we want to give them an easy way to access the sport they love online and in mobile settings,” said Scott Greenstein.”

Sirius XM and NASCAR recently agreed to a five-year extension of their satellite broadcasting agreement.  Sirius XM will continue to broadcast every NASCAR race live nationwide through 2016.

While debate about data charges on smartphone plans seems to catch the attention of some, the fact is that having data plans available is what is saving the concept of Internet radio.  Data plans will not kill Internet Radio, they will enable it to proliferate even further into the mainstream.  Those that say data plans will kill the likes of Pandora might not be to keen on Sirius XM’s up and coming Internet aspirations.